How can I use the SVN revision number in Visual Build?

I want to use the SVN revision number as the 4th digit in my version number. In Visual Build, my version number is defined as

%MAJOR%.%MINOR%.%BUILD%.%REVISION%

and I'd like to populate the %REVISION% variable from SVN.

How can I achieve that in Visual Build?

Option 1: parse the XML

It's possible to implement that as a reusable subroutine step:

1. Update the repository if needed.

   Use a "Subversion" action with the following settings:

   Path = %PROJDIR%
   Subcommand = update
   

2. Store the SVN information into a XML file

   Use a "Run Program" action with the following settings:

   Command = %DOSCMD% svn info --xml > "%PROJDIR%\svninfo.xml"
   

3. Extract the revision

   Use a "Run Script" action for VBScript and apply the following code:

   dim fso
   Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
   dim filename
   filename = Application.ExpandMacros("%PROJDIR%\svninfo.xml")
   dim file
   set file = fso.OpenTextFile(filename, 1)
   dim filecontent
   filecontent = ""
   Do While Not file.AtEndOfStream
       filecontent = filecontent + file.readline + vbNewLine
   loop
   file.Close()
   set file = nothing
   set fso = nothing
   
   Builder.LogMessage(filecontent)
   
   ' Load as XML document
   set xmlDoc=CreateObject("Microsoft.XMLDOM")
   call xmlDoc.loadxml(filecontent)
   
   ' Extract information
   dim revision
   set revision = xmlDoc.SelectSingleNode("/info/entry/@revision")
   
   ' Set output variable
   dim out
   out = Application.ExpandMacros("%OUTPUTMACRO%")
   call Application.Macros(vbldMacroTemporary).Add(out, revision.Value)
   

4. Delete the temporary XML file

   Use a "Delete Files" action with the setting

   Folder = %PROJDIR%
   Include = svninfo.xml
   

The subroutine should now look like this:

In order to use it from your build script, use the "Subroutine call" action and add OUTPUTMACRO with value REVISION. It should look like this:

Option 2: parse the command line output

1. Get the information about the repository

   Use a "Subversion" action with the following settings:

   Subcommand = info
   

   In the script editor for the step, add the following code:

   Sub vbld_StepDone()
       If Step.BuildStatus = vbldStepStatSucceeded Then
           ' parse output for Revision number
           out = vbld_AllMacros()("LASTSTEP_OUTPUT").Value
           pos = InStr(out, "Revision: ")+10
           pos2 = InStr(pos, out, vbCrLf)
           bld_TempMacros.Add "GLOBAL_REV", Mid(out, pos, pos2-pos)
       End If  
   End Sub
   

2. Save the temporary macro

   Use a "Set macro" action with the following settings:

   Name = REVISION
   Value = %GLOBAL_REV%